Album, Single and EP Reviews

Space Thumb by Gravity Raincoat

They say that you can't keep a good man down. It would appear to be likewise true with Texas based band Gravity Raincoat. 16 years after they split, Tom, McKinney, Grady Truchelut, and Shannon Murdock have got themselves back together. Their post punk style has changed a bit however.

Atmospheric in its own way, this album seems curiously out of its time taking elements of seventies rock, grunge and synthesisers to create what could be described as a sort of homage to road movie soundtracks. "I Call Myself Bunglethorp" is the Pontiac Firebird powering through the coastal roads of California. "Pressing Jo Taylor's Pants", with its chanting chorus, is a BMW coupe cutting its way across the urban landscape. "Stun Gun" takes way off into the future - in an eighties sci-fi movie way - on a road trip to the stars mixing strange, industrial noises with a robotic synth riff. The most conventional track - for this is a band that has strayed from the 3 minute pop song - was "Bad Exchange" with its conventional structure, powerhouse guitar and catchy hook.

Bluesbunny could see these songs fitting into a video game soundtrack without the slightest bother. At times conventional, Gravity Raincoat mix up a variety of genres to produce something a little bit different. It will be interesting to see what they come up with next. Available from Fast Acting Records.